Oneida boys basketball routs Canastota in opener

ONEIDA -- Kyle Peck averaged nearly 20 points per game for Oneida's boys basketball team. In Friday night's opener against Canastota the senior scored nearly that many in the first half alone. Oneida had a 16-point lead at halftime and rolled to a 77-46 win over the Raiders.

"I'm very pleased with our defense, especially in the second half," said Oneida coach Jeff Didio. "We played harder to open the second half."

Canastota looked like it would be able to hang with the hosts through the first quarter. A 10-0 run gave the Oneida a 16-8 lead, but Elijah Motley answered with a three for the Raiders. Jonathan Halsey made a quick steal off the inbounds pass and his lay-up cut the deficit to 16-13 with 1:39 to play in the quarter.

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It was all Oneida from there. Matt Hood rebounded a miss and made a lay-up to give Oneida a five-point lead after the first quarter. The hosts continued to pour it on in the second. Peck was fouled making a lay-up and made the ensuing free throw.

He followed the play with a three-point shot two possessions later. Bryan Inman's basket capped a 10-0 run, ended by Matt Russitano's three. The Raiders couldn't match Oneida's defensive intensity or find an answer for Peck for the remainder of the half.

He finished with 12 points in the second quarter, one less than Canastota's entire team.

"In the first half I thought our effort was outstanding," said Canastota head coach Josh Chenel. "In the second half we couldn't score. We made a lot of turnovers and they caught fire."

Peck also picked apart Canastota's defense with his passing in the second half. He started with two dazzling assists to Matt Carinci, helping Oneida stretch the lead to 22 points less than two minutes into the quarter. Carinci added two three pointers to finish the quarter with 10 points. Lucas Durant chipped in three baskets in the closing minutes to help Oneida take a 60-30 lead into the final quarter. Anthony Sicilia scored the Raiders' only field goal of the period, a three with 2:45 to play.

Didio was pleased with how balanced the scoring was throughout the second half. He said the team needs to have that balance throughout the year so opposing defenses can't key in on one or two players.

Oneida's coach turned to his bench to close out the fourth quarter. The defense continued to smother Canastota, with Hood providing a highlight-quality block early in the period. The Raiders struggled to get the ball inside and couldn't convert from beyond the three-point line. Motley did have a great play midway through the quarter, converting a driving lay-up while being fouled. Halsey also shone for Canastota, leading the team with 13 points, all in the first half.

"The kids are working hard in the gym and its coming along," said Chenel.

Canastota will face VVS in the consolation game Saturday at 3:30. Oneida plays Mohawk in the title game at 5:15.